Folding table



Aug. 8, 1939 L. R. VINDING 2,168,813

FOLDING TABLE y original Filed Deo. 8, `1932 2 sheets-sheet 2 Ffa? Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED ST'EE ATENT OFFIC Refiled. for abandoned application Serial No. 646,234, December 8, 1932. This application May 24, 1938, Serial No. 209,748

2 Claims.

This invention relates to tables and in particular to a combination folding, sewing machine stand or table and ironing board.

A particular object of my invention is to so construct a device of the character referred to, so that when not in use, it may be folded into compact form for storage in a small space such as a closet.

Further objects are the provision of a table in which is mounted an ironing board and a table top, the latter of which accommodates a removable sewing machine unit when the same is not in use to complete an extended ironing board. Without the accommodation of the sewing machine unit and the ironing board, the table may be employed for general use as a table and my invention provides means for Substantially supporting the table and locking the legs in their extended position to give the maximum stability and spread of the legs on the supporting surface.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction of the character referred to which is inexpensive to manufacture, eliminates the necessity of having a separate ironing board and sewing table and one which lends itself to easy and rapid adjustment.

This application has been reiiled for abandoned application 646,234, ledDecember 8, 1932.

Changes and variations may be made in the construction shown and described without departing from the principles of the invention or sacricing its chief advantages; hence suchl invention is not to be conned to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a top plan view-of a combination sewing machine, table and ironing board, having the ironing board portion illustrated in outline in its extended position, a part of the gure being broken away to illustrate the construction,

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of a table illustrated in Figure 1, showing how it would appear when the ironing board portion is extended and the legs open, the sewing machine unit being illustrated in outline in the position which it would occupy wheny the table is in use as a sewing machine table,

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the sewing machine table and ironing board combination as illustrated in Figure 2, in this figure, the legs being shown in the folded position,

Figure 4 is an enlarged section tak-en on -the line 1 4 of Figure l and illustrates the method of releasably holding a panel in place which is used to cover the opening used to hold the sewing machine,

(Cl. Sii-105) Figure 5 is an enlarged section on the line ,5 5 of Figure 3 and illustrates the construction of the pivoted end of one of the legs that support the table,

Figure 6 is a view in elevation taken substantially as indicated by the lines 6-6 on Figure 2 and illustrating the construction of the leg retaining means,

Figure 7 is a section taken on the lines 1-1 of Figure 6 showing the interior construction of the leg engaging means, and

Figure is a view in perspective of a modified form of my invention in which the ironing board portion is replaced by a leaf, the leaf and the table top having relatively foldable leaves.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 5 indicates the frame or body portion having an opening 5 in the top thereof constituting a receptacle for an ironing board and an opening 'i in the bottom thereof constituting a receptacle for the legs of the table when the latter are in folded position. The opening l is bounded by the sides 8 of the body 5 while the sides of the opening 5 are open. The body is further providedwith end walls 9 and i0, to the wall 9 of which is secured the strip Il inside thereof. The strip ,il may be formed with the wall 9 and both the wall 9 and the strip H are cut out as at l2 to provide a space for the hinge end i3 of the ironing board Irl. This hinge end is pivotally supported be-A tween the strips H through the medium of a suitable hinge pin l5, and the ironing board rests in a closed position on suitable blocks i5A in the body 5.

As illustrated in Figure 2 in outline, the iron-A ing board when not in use is folded beneath the table top i6 which is pivoted or hinged as at H to the end wall I5 of the body 5. The table top l5 is provided with an opening I8 about the edges of which there is disposed a ledge piece .4S for supporting in the opening i8, and flush with the top i6, a removable panel 25. This removable panel completes the table top when the same is used only as a table or as a complete ironing board and its removal is facilitated by withdrawal of the latch 2i which engages a suitable opening 22 in the table top i6, the latch being withdrawn against the action of a spring `23 to permit the removal of the panel 20.

When the legs of the table have been extended to support the body 5, as will be hereinafter described, and to illustrate one use of my invention, the lid or table top i5 is raised far enough to permit outward swinging movement of the ironing board I4 about its pivot point I5 until it assumes a position illustrated in Figure 2, the hinge end I3 of the ironing board resting in the cutout portion I2 of the body and substantially supporting the ironing board in its extended position. It is further supported by the blocks 24 which are secured to the end wall 9 of the body. The under side of the ironing board has pivoted thereto as at 25, a sleeve board 26 whose end is disposed Within a suitable cutout 21 in the hinge end I3 of the ironing board. The opposite end of the sleeve board 26 is arranged to engage a similar cut-out 28 in a cleat 29 secured to the under side of the ironing board, the closed position of the ironing board being illustrated in Figure 1, but in said figure being shown in its extended position in outline. When the ironing board is in the extended position illustrated in Figure 2, it is evident that the sewing machine 30 may be dropped into the opening I8 of the table top to rest on the bottom of the table, and in connection with the sewing machine unit, a suitable indicating mark 3| is employed to show where the control handle of the machine unit is to be inserted into the unit.

Either the sewing machine unit 3D or the panel will be positioned in the table top I6, and it is quite evident that the sewing and pressing can be done without changing the parts of the construction of the table and the ironing board I4. This is convenient and in addition affords an extension to the sewing table which is convenient for the operator.

In supporting the body 5, I employ the legs and it is believed that a description of one leg and mechanism for holding the same in its extended position will suffice.

The leg 35, preferably made of Wood is surrounded at its upper end by a sleeve portion 36 which is of metal and formed to provide the extended ear 31 as Well as the hinge eye 38 (see Figure 3), the ears of the hinge plate 39 being secured to said hinge eye 38 through the medium of a pin, the hinge plate 39 being secured to the underside of the body 5 in position to allow the leg to swing out so that the ears 31 thereon engage a yieldable latch 40 pivoted as at 4I in a metal frame or casting 42 which, through the medium of the screws 43 is arranged to be secured in the end wall of the ironing table. The latch 40, at its lower end is provided with a horizontal extension 45 which overlies the side edges of the legs so that when it is desired to release the legs it is simply necessary to grip the latch with the finger tips and draw the same outwardly to release the ears 31 of the leg and permit folding of the leg to closed position.

The casting or bracket 42 is provided with a central hollow portion 41 and a spring 48 is secured therein which engages an overturned end 49 on the latch 4I), to normally maintain the latch in position against the solid portion 50 of the bracket. When the leg 35 is swung to open position, the ears 31 thereon will engage the latch extension 45 and against the action of the spring 48 will snap into the position illustrated in Figure '1 to efficiently secure the legs in their open position and prevent the collapse thereof.

In a modified form of my invention illustrated in Figure 8, the table is of the same construction as previously described, but in this instance, the table top is provided with the side leaves 56 which are hinged thereto as at 51, the hinges in all instances being flush with the top of the table and the table top is provided with the removable panel 58 for insertion of the sewing machine unit, if desired.

Instead of employing the ironing board I4, a similar board may be employed, except that it is in the form of a square leaf 59 which opens out in the same manner, and in turn has hinged thereto as at 60, the leaf 6 I. In folding this table, it is simply necessary to raise the table top 55 to fold the leaf 6I in on top of the extension 59 and fold it into the table after which the leaves 5B of the table top are folded inwardly, so that they lie on the table top and cover the sewing machine unit opening. It is understood that the use of a panel is not necessary if the table is to be employed as a sewing machine holder, but the panel may be used if the table is used for table purposes. Suitable bevels are provided for the parts so that they t together to p give a maximum of unbroken surface. As illustrated in Figure 2, the meeting edges of the ironing board and the table top I6 are suitably bevelled so that they fit closely together.

My invention is not to be restricted to the precise details of construction shown since various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention or sacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What I claim is:

l. A table of the character described having a body having an upper sideless opening and ends bounding said opening, an ironing board disposed in the body opening and mounted for pivotal movement in one of said ends and arranged to be swung to an open position exteriorly of the body for use, a cover pivoted on another end of the body and constituting a table top when closed, said top having an opening therein for the reception of a sewing machine unit, a panel for closing said opening when the machine unit is removed and said table top and ironing board being operable in opposite directions at the same time for opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a table including a body having an upper and lower opening therein, the upper opening having end Walls, a table top having a covered opening and hinged to one of said ends, legs on the body arranged to be folded into the lower opening, one of the upper opening end walls being cut-out, an ironing board having a hinge extension disposed in said cut-out, a hinge pin for pivotally securing said board in the cut-out, blocks on the end wall for supporting the ironing board in open position, and flush with the table top when the latter is closed, and the table top and ironing board being openable and closable substantially at the same time.

LAURA R. VINDING. 

